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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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SAMSON SETS RETALIATIN IN MOTION Judges 15:1-20,
12/18/13 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. SAMSON’S REJECTION IGNITES A FIRE (1-5) A. [1] Having gone back to his father’s house
for a time (Jdg 14:19), Samson decided to visit his wife in Timnah. Quite
likely, this was a common near-eastern arrangement where the wife remained at
the parents’ house with periodical visits from the husband. The young goat
may have been a typical visitation gift (Ge 38:17) rather than a gift of
repentance. However, Samson’s father-in-law did not allow him to see his
wife. B. [2] The father-in-law assumed that Samson
did not wish to carry through with the wedding since he left in anger on the
day of the wedding. Samson’s wife had been given to Samson’s Philistine
companion who was part of the wedding party (cf. Jdg 14:11, 20; 15:2, 6).
Knowing that there was a monetary contract at stake with Samson’s father, the
father-in-law offered Samson his other daughter instead. Even the Philistines
acknowledged Samson’s marriage was still legal using the term for Samson as
“son-in-law” (Jdg 15:6). David had the same thing happen to him and he took
back his wife Michal (1Sa 25:44; 2Sa 3:13–15). C. [3] Samson may have regarded this as an
insult from both his father-in-law and the Philistines. Being rejected,
insulted, and humiliated, Samson refused the offer and determined to seek
revenge against the Philistines. Samson may have reasoned that his last
outburst of anger, killing thirty Philistines may not have been very
justifiable, but his next outburst would be “blameless” (naqah - clean,
empty, blameless). D. [4] Samson went and caught 300 “foxes.”
From the Hebrew word shual it may have been jackals, which would have
been considerably larger (Blanford’s Fox weighs 4-7 lbs whereas a Golden
Jackal can weigh 20-30 lbs and upward) capable of carrying larger burning
torches. We are not told how long it took Samson or what method he used to
capture the animals, but most trappers and hunters would marvel at such a
feat. “Caught” (lakad) is unusually used with taking enemies by force
(Jos 10:42; Jdg 1:8) but also of nets (Ps 9:15) and enticement (Ecc 7:26).
Afterwards, Samson tied two tails and a torch together, which was perhaps an
even greater precarious feat. E. [5] Having set the torches on fire, the
panic-stricken animals fled into the standing grain fields of the
Philistines. Shocks, which were sheaves of grain stacked
upright in a field for drying, and standing grain stalks were burned. The
fiery foxes also burned vineyards and groves (probably olive), destroying
precious provisions of Timnah. II. PHILISTINE’S RETALIATE AGAINST SAMSON’S
FATHER-IN-LAW (Jdg 15:6) A. [6] The Philistines made inquiry of the
culprit and identified him as “Samson,
the son-in-law of the Timnite.” Instead of going
after Samson, the Philistines retaliated against Samson’s wife and
father-in-law. Evidently, they did not buy into Samson’s father-in-law’s
excuse for giving away Samson’s wife. Therefore, they proceeded to fight fire
with fire and burned them both to death. III. SAMSON SLAUGHTERS MEN OF TIMNAH (Jdg 15:7-8) A. [7] If Samson questioned his actions
before, he most certainly believed his next action would be completely
justified. He would seek the “revenge” (naqam - avenge or take vengeance)
of the death of his wife upon the Philistines. However, so as to be fair in
his justice, he would afterwards cease his battle, or so he thought. B. [8] He went after them “ruthlessly (soq
al-yārāk),” literally “leg on thigh,” an obscure idiom,
but implied a vicious beating without regard to their lives. It was termed a
“great slaughter” which suggested the loss of at least hundreds of lives
though it is not recorded how many. What started with a harmless riddle would
become a national crisis of Philistia. C. When it was over and just in case it was
not over, Samson went down to the “rock of Etam” and lived in the cleft of
the rock. Though there is a town called Etam about 2 miles south of Bethlehem
of Judah, some suspect that it referred to a place above Wadi Ismain, about 2
1/2 miles southeast of Zorah. IV. PHILISTINES SEEK SAMSON AND FIND THE MEN OF
JUDAH (Jdg 15:9-13) A. [9] The Philistines sought revenge against
Samson and went eastward in Judah to find Samson. So, they encamped and
spread out in Lehi just southeast of Samson’s rocky fortress. B. [10] Seeing the large number of
Philistines, the men of Judah asked why the Philistines had come out against
them. The Philistines replied that they were there for Samson and desired to
bind him and do to him what he had done to the men of Timnah. C. [11] The men of Judah complied with the
Philistine purpose to go and bind Samson. Instead of rallying around Samson,
Israel’s deliverer, 3,000 of them reproved Samson for making things worse for
them. Not only did this reveal their lack of courage, but their lack of faith
in God as well. Samson’s response appears completely self-serving for he
said, “As they did to me, so I have
done to them.” D. [12-13] The men of Judah said they were
going to bind Samson and hand him over to the Philistines. Samson was willing
to submit to the men of Judah if they promised that they would not kill him.
This was not out of fear but out of a desire not to shed any blood of the
Israelites. The men of Judah swore that they would not kill him and then
bound him with two new ropes. V. A THOUSAND PHILISTINES ARE KILLED WITH A
JAWBONE (Jdg 15:14-17) A. [14] Having been brought to Lehi, the
Philistines shouted in anger and in supposed victory when they saw Samson.
However, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson mightily and with the
strength of the Lord broke the two new ropes as if they were “flax burned by
fire.” The ropes dropped from his hands. B. [15] Finding a “fresh” (tari - raw,
fresh) jawbone of a donkey, Samson took it and killed a thousand
Philistines with it. A jawbone hardly seems like a useful weapon, but by the
strength of the Lord any object wields His terror. Yet a jawbone of a donkey
is not a completely inept weapon. The jawbone of a donkey can measure 9
inches long or more. Though not unbreakable, bones of animals and humans are
known for their strength and durability. From the structure of the back of a
donkey’s jawbone, it could have been used to deliver a blunt blow to the
head, not to mention the sharp edges in the front. Though Samson used it as a
weapon, it does not mean that he refrained from fighting with his hands or
feet. Furthermore, a jawbone could have certainly served to deflect the edge
of a knife or sword. Nevertheless, the main point is that all this was
accomplished through the supernatural strength given by God. C. [16] In his poetic and word play manner,
Samson said, “with the jawbone of a
donkey (chamōr), Heaps (chamorah) upon heaps (chamorah),
With the jawbone of a donkey (chamōr), I have killed a thousand
men.” The men of Judah could have certainly added to that number, but they
were unwilling to aid Samson or fight for Israel. D. [17] When the dust cleared, the victor
dropping the jawbone, and named the place “Ramath-lehi” (ramath - hill or
height; lehi - jawbone) or “Jawbone Hill.” VI. ADDITIONAL PROVISION FROM THE LORD (Jdg
15:18-20) A. [18] The heroic battle made Samson unquenchably thirsty. In a
prayer to the Lord, one of only two recorded, Samson asked for water. It very
well could have been a selfish and sarcastic tone concerned only with his
personal vengeance and reputation. B. [19] Nevertheless, the Lord miraculously
answered and split the hollow place in Lehi and water came out. Samson
revived his strength and named the place “En-hakkore” (Caller’s Spring).
It was there to the day of Samuel’s writings and quite possibly present today
as Samson’s spring near Beit Lehi. C. [20] Though not over by any means, the
author summarizes Samson’s years as judge. He indeed is saving the most
notable events for last. VII. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Samson was ruled by anger and revenge, and
the Lord may still have used him, but this was anything but spiritual wisdom
or godly character (Ro 12:17-21). B. Samson reaped without realizing that he
was also sowing. What started with a harmless riddle soon became a national
crisis of Philistia (Ga 2:7 cf. 1Pe 4:14-15). C. When the men of Judah associated and chose
the Philistines over God and His appointed Deliverer, they aligned with the
enemies purposes. The believer must associate with God and align with His purposes, otherwise he will be aiding and abetting the
enemy. D. It is a sad fact of Christian experience
that if you are a Christian committed to growing and maturing in Jesus
Christ, you will often be hindered the most by other Christians who have
become accustomed and accommodated to an anemic, wishy-washy spiritual life.
John Davis |
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